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Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe, Head of the Haatso Area of The Church of Pentecost, has been overwhelmingly elected to serve as the International Missions Director (IMD) of the church for the next five years.

The IMD-elect takes over from Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo, who has successfully served a two-term tenure in this capacity.

The election took place on the second day of the ongoing 45^th General Council Meeting which officially opened on Wednesday, May 6, 2021.

Apostle Agyemang Bekoe garnered 1,184 out of the 1,200 total votes cast, representing 98.7 per cent of total valid votes cast.

In a brief acceptance speech, the newly-elected IMD said: “I give thanks to God whose grace has located me. I want to thank the Chairman who has reposed this confidence in me. I also thank members of the Executive Council who supported this nomination. I also want to express gratitude to all councilors across the globe for their acceptance. I want to plead with you to pray for me so that I will be able to run with the Vision. I know the grace of God will abound and I will not disappoint God, the Chairman, the Executive Council, and the entire membership of the church.”

BRIEF PROFILE OF APOSTLE EMMANUEL AGYEMANG BEKOE

Apostle Emmanuel Agyemang Bekoe holds a BSc (Hon) and MSc in Chemistry from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds an M.A in Theology from the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, and Basics in Biblical Greek. He is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree with the South African Theological Seminary. He was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 2006 and has since served at four stations of the church. He is a former missionary to Uganda and is currently serving as the Haatso Area Head. Apostle Agyemang Bekoe is married to Deborah Agyemang-Bekoe with whom he has four children.

PENTECOST NEWS

The Ejura Correctional Facility, one of the four prison facilities being constructed by The Church of Pentecost to decongest Ghanaian prisons, is set to be commissioned on Tuesday, May 11, this year, the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has said.

The Chairman revealed this in the 2020 State-of-the-Church Address (SOCA20), which he delivered on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at the opening ceremony of the 45^th General Council Meetings.

In his address, he said that “in pursuance of its objective to contribute to the enhancement of the reformation and integration of prisoners in Ghana, the church, with the support by some philanthropists progressed with the construction of four Prisons Correctional Facilities which began in 2019.”

The Ejura Prison facility project, which began in 2019, has an administration block, dormitories, kitchen, and football field, among others. The facility is sited at Ejura Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region.

“To the glory of God, I am delighted to say that the Ejura Prison Holding Facility is set to be commissioned on May 11, 2021,” he said.

He further noted that the Nsawam Prisons project, is near completion, while the remaining two facilities at Obuasi and Damongo are also at various stages of completion.

PENTECOST NEWS

Despite the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Church of Pentecost recorded a growth rate of 4.3% in its total membership worldwide compared to the previous year.

The church, which currently operates in 109 nations including Ghana, has a total membership of 3,623,011.

This is according to the 2020 State-of-the-Church Address (SOCA20) delivered by the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, at the opening ceremony of the ongoing 45^th General Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

Addressing councilors via a Zoom video conferencing, Apostle Nyamekye stated that, within the period, 195,636 persons were led to Christ, which resulted in the opening of 746 new Assemblies worldwide and 124 Districts.

“It is gratifying to note that despite the challenges that we were confronted with, 99,120 of the souls won were baptised in water. This means that 50.7% of all adult souls won in 2020 were baptised in water,” he said.

He further stated: “In the area of Holy Ghost baptism, a total number of 135,061 members received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Of this number, 69,398 were new converts, representing 70.01% of converts baptised in water. Very encouraging!”

On the pursuance of the Vision 2023 agenda, the Chairman said that the year 2020 witnessed appreciable number of implementation activities at all levels of the Church in spite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the new ministry interventions such as the Home and Urban Missions, Ministry of Persons with Disabilities (MPWDs) and the Chaplaincy Ministry, the Church was able to reach out to people groups that were hitherto not reached.

“To the glory of God, the Home and Urban Missions (HUM), in its activities, won 12,331 souls. This was made up of 416 commercial sex workers, 1,194 street dwellers, 3,713 drug addicts, 3,205 northerners in the south, 544 African migrants, 101 expatriates (non-African migrants), 527 Fulanis, 50 Chakalis, 91 Kotokolis and 12 Challa with 800 Others. During the period, 2,183 of the converts received water baptism and 723 were baptised in the Holy Spirit,” he said.

He further noted: “In Walewale Area, the Chieftaincy Ministry has impacted the Bunbuna Nasuan community of Jimbale District to the extent that when a nearby community attacked them, they did not retaliate. When asked why they did not retaliate, they responded that they knew the Jimbale District Minster, Pastor Daniel Tetteh, who had been offering chaplaincy services to the palace would be disappointed to hear that they had retaliated the attack by their opponents. Praise God!”

The Chairman commended all the various ministries, including the traditional ones (Women, Men, Children, Youth and Evangelism), for the great work done in what was otherwise a difficult year.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye led councilors to observe a minute silence for ministers and ministers’ wives who were called to glory during the period.

The Chairman also acknowledged the services of ministers who will be going on retirement this year. They include: Apostle Rene Coco (Benin, 38 years), Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah (Ghana, 37 years), Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh (Ghana, 37 years), Apostle Robert C. Ackon (Ghana, 35 years), Apostle Komi Edina Agbavitoh (Togo, 33 years), Apostle Dr. Francis Kofi Bonsu (Spain, 32 years), Evangelist Stephen Omane Yeboah – (USA, 27 years), Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Anthony Owusu (Canada, 26 years), Apostle Ekow Badu-Wood (Ghana, 26 years), Apostle Peter Owusu Amponsah (USA, 24 years), Apostle Joseph Adekoya Onile (Nigeria, 23 years) and Apostle Antonio R. Da Silveiro (Brazil, 11 years)

The State-of-the-Church address provides a report on the achievements under the various intervention areas of the Church’s Vision 2023 agenda of “Possessing the Nations”, as well as all major developments that took place in a particular reporting year.

Please download THE 2020 STATE-OF-THE-CHURCH ADDRESS here:

PENTECOST NEWS

The  Assin Foso Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Frederick Kweku Andoh, has dedicated a newly-constructed mission house for the Assin Akonfudi District. The four-bedroom manse, which was constructed at the total cost of GH₵318,082.20, has a kitchen, a storeroom, and a hall with en-suite facilities.

Speaking at the colourful ceremony which came off on April 25, 2021, on the topic, “Living a transformed life” based on Romans 12:1-2 and Colossians 3:2, Pastor George Kwadwo Boadi of Foso Town District explained that although the Lord accepts anyone who comes to Him, He expects a total transformation and wants believers to look exactly like Him in character, speech, and deeds.

He bemoaned the state of the church today where many believers seem not perturbed about their sinful lives and even become offended when disciplinary measures are instituted against them. He encouraged all to turn over a new leaf and live lives worthy of their call as Christians.

“You have been called by God to transform others. Because of that, you have to put on His full armour in order to sustain the gains of your transformed life,” he emphasised.

Giving a brief history of the project, the District Secretary, Elder Sefah, noted that the project which commenced in December 2017 after a sod-cutting by the former Area Head, Apostle Sylvester Arhin, received huge funding from the Headquarters of the church, with support from the Assin Foso Area, the Akonfudi District, and some benevolent individuals.

The District Minister, Pastor Kojo Anomah, commended the sacrificial giving by the members and other individuals within and outside the district in support of the project.

In attendance were the wife of the Area Head, Mrs. Kate Andoh, pastors and wives in the Area, some past pastors of the district, chiefs and elders of Akonfudi Traditional Council, among others.

Report by Pastor Samuel Avornyo.

A sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of a new auditorium for the Christiana Obu Memorial Temple and Royal Priesthood Assembly in Merry Villas District has been performed by the La Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle John Osei Amaniampong. He was assisted by the District Minister, Pastor Emmanuel Kwesi Ake.

The event took place on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the project site.

The two-storey church building is estimated to seat more than 2,500 people upon completion. The project is expected to be constructed within 24 months and it is estimated to cost about Four Million Thirty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Ghana Cedis and Twenty-Five pesewas (GH¢ 4,037,785.25).

The building would contain a car park, an auditorium, a gallery, two children’s halls, conference halls, offices, washrooms, a sound control room, and a baptistery.

The assembly was named after Mrs. Christiana Obu, who was very instrumental in the establishment of the Women’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost.

Apostle Amaniampong was full of appreciation to God for the realisation of the project.

Present at the ceremony were Pastor Solomon Ashally Djanie (La Area Estate Committee Chairman) and the Site Engineer for Gab Construction (the contractors), Ing. Abraham Adjetey Adjei, among others.

Report by David Babu Neizer, Merry Villas District.

The Berekum Area of The Church of Pentecost, under the headship of Apostle Samuel Berko, has dedicated eight Community Based Church Buildings (CBCB) in April 2021 to the glory of God.

This was in line with the broader vision of the church to get all members a conducive place of worship. As such, the Berekum Area has committed itself to support local assemblies to complete all ongoing CBCB projects in the Area.

By the grace of God, the following church buildings were completed and dedicated between the 27^th and 30^th of April 2021:  New Testament Church building (Amasu District), Tainso Church building (Seikwa District), Tainano Church building (Asiri District), Bredi-Akoto Church building (Kwakuanya District), Kutre No. 1 Church building (Brenyekwa District), Kojokesekrom, Basakrom, and Ntaabene church buildings, all of Japekrom District.

Expressing his joy for the providence of God towards the Area, Apostle Samuel Berko urged church officers and members to be good stewards of the church buildings. He also encouraged them to regularly maintain the buildings so that the facilities would serve other generations.

He encouraged them to continue to tithe faithfully, give, and also pray for the leadership of the church.

Chiefs and opinion leaders who were present at the dedication services at the various communities expressed their appreciation to the leadership of The Church of Pentecost for their prudence in financial management and for being pacesetters in most matters of Christian and national interest.

The dedication services were witnessed by Mrs. Joyce Berko (wife of the Area Head) as well as ministers of the church and their wives in the Area.

Report by Pastor Daniel Fosu, Berekum.

The Techiman Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei Djani, has been elected the Chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) for the Bono East Region. The election took place on April 12, 2021, at the Assemblies of God Church in Techiman.

The region was formerly part of the Brong-Ahafo Region headed by Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh, Sunyani Area Head of The Church of Pentecost. With the creation of the Bono East Region in 2018, it became necessary that it has its leadership.

In an exhortation, the Bono Regional Chairman of the GPCC, Apostle Mark Obeng Andoh, spoke on the topic, “Unity in Humility.” Reading from Philippians 2:1-2;8, he said that one very important tool required in the advancement of the kingdom of God is unity. He stated that unity can only be achieved when believers humble themselves to one another.

“Humility is something we should highly pursue in addition to the spiritual gifts, for it is humility that exhorts a person,” he advised.

He encouraged members of the Council to submit to the new leaders irrespective of their denominations so that the Council can move on.

In his acceptance remarks, Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei Djani, an Executive Council Member of the church, thanked the House for the honour done him and pledged to work with all to lift the Council to higher grounds, while soliciting their prayers and support.

The regional executives are Reverend Dr. Adjei Gyan (Vice-Chairman), Pastor Daniel Owusu (Secretary), Pastor Yaw Owusu (Financial Secretary). Others are Apostle Kwame Asare, Pastor Boakye Yiadom, Reverend Samuel Nkansah, and Reverend Anthony Kyeremeh.

Report by Pastor Peter Amuzu-Avorde, Techiman Area Reporter.